Perry County School District 32 leaders heard encouraging news Tuesday night about the long-awaited federal reimbursement process for repairing tornado-damaged buildings — particularly Perryville High School — during a detailed briefing from FEMA consultant and former Joplin superintendent Dr. C.J. Huff.
Speaking during the Nov. 12 Board of Education meeting, Huff said FEMA has made “really good progress” over the past several weeks and that early damage-assessment figures appear favorable for the district. Those assessments will help determine whether the high school meets FEMA’s “50 percent rule,” a threshold that could unlock substantial federal funding toward repair or replacement.
“There are currently 25 projects in the FEMA portal,” Huff said, noting that the most heavily damaged buildings — including the high school’s 200 and 300 wings and the gym — were assessed first. “They’ve gotten through the bulk of it. They’re probably 90 percent of the way there… and the numbers are looking really good for you all.”
Once FEMA completes its entry of the remaining damage assessments — expected within days — the district can receive preliminary numbers tied to each project. Huff cautioned that the process still moves “at the speed of government,” but stressed that this is the fastest FEMA has worked in any Missouri district he has assisted since the Joplin tornado.
THE 50 PERCENT RULE
A major decision point for the district will be whether key high-school structures meet FEMA’s 50 percent threshold, meaning the cost to repair exceeds half the cost to replace. If so, FEMA could participate in 75 percent of the rebuilding cost beyond that mark — leaving the local share at 25 percent.
Huff emphasized that these are the same federal tax dollars Perry County residents have long contributed to disaster relief nationwide.
“For years, you’ve supported every major natural disaster — Texas, Puerto Rico, California wildfires, Lahaina,” he said. “Now you have an opportunity… to bring some of those dollars back to your community.”
District architects, engineers and construction managers are currently preparing the repair-versus-replacement cost analysis FEMA needs to make its determination.
LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT
Huff said FEMA is aware of the district’s need for timely answers as the board approaches major decisions about future high school planning within the next six to eight weeks.
He also thanked state legislators who toured District 32’s damaged buildings in October, saying they were “tremendously supportive” — particularly regarding potential state assistance to help the district meet its local funding match.
